ADF has 'great hope' that biblical beliefs will stay in business

Monday, April 16, 2018

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Chris Woodward (OneNewsNow.com)

A Kentucky business owner is watching and waiting for his next day in court.

Six years ago, Lexington, KY, printer Blaine Adamson (right) of Hands On Originals declined to print expressive shirts promoting the Lexington Pride Festival, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization (GLSO), because he did not want to convey the messages printed on the shirts.

"It actually happened over the phone," Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorney Jim Campbell tells American Family Radio's "Janet Mefferd Live" program. "They called and spoke to Blaine and indicated what they were looking for. He asked them what would be printed on the shirt. Once he found out what would be on it, that it would be words promoting this festival, he realized it was not something he could do. So he politely declined but quickly offered to send them, connect them to another print shop that would do the work for the same price that he would have charged."

The GLSO later filed a complaint with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission, which said Adamson violated the law and would have to print shirts in the future with messages that conflict with his faith.

"We appealed to the state trial court there, and the state trial court reversed the Commission's decision and said that, 'No, Blaine does in fact have the right to live and work consistent with his religious beliefs,'" Campbell continues. "The Commission then took us up to the next level, where we again prevailed. But nevertheless, the Commission appealed to the Kentucky Supreme Court, and that's where we currently stand."

Campbell says there is concern because people are willing to file these kinds of lawsuits, spend time in court, and force people to defend who they are and what they believe.

"But on the other hand, we are seeing, as in Blaine's case, victories in these cases. And the Constitution does continue to provide space for all of us to live out our core religious conviction," Campbell asserts. "It depends on how you look at it, but I do think there is cause for great hope in the midst of this, because while the culture may be less and less tolerant to people who hold believes like Blaine Adamson does, I think the law does continue to give him the freedom to live out that belief."

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